Telescoric air valve and operating means therefor



A. BOYNT ON TELESCOPIC AIR VALVE AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Dec. 26, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet l Fid. Q

WITNESSES INVENTOR A TTORNE YS A. BOYNTON TELESCOPIC AIR VALVE AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed Deb. 26. 1923 s Sheets-Sheet 2 w. m m EY R w m [B WITNESSES Dec. 2, 1924. 1,517,611

A. BOYNTON TELESCOPIC AIR VALVE AND OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR Filed D80. 26, 1923 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 1-1 ,1 a l 1 1 F1(.6. 1 76 l 64 I 11 1 I 66 n V WITNESSES 7 IN VEN TOR 1 ALEXANDER BOYNTON.

DZ ATTORNEYS description.

Patented Dec. 2, 1 924.'

um'rsn STATES ALEXANDER BOYN'ION, SAN- .ANTONIO, TEXAS.

TELESCOIBIC AIR VALVE AND Application filed December To allwhom it may concern:

Be it known/that I, ALEXANDER BOYNTON, a citizen of the United ,States, and resident of San Antonio, in the county ofBexar and State of Texas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Telescopic Air Valves and Operating Means Therefor, of which the following is a specification.

This invention relates to telescopic air valves and operating means therefore especially adapted for use in oil and water wells.

The usual practice in pumping wells with air is to introduce air under pressure and through the usual perforations in the lowerportion of the tubing so that inrushing air will elevate and discharge the oil. However, in case the well is flooded as a-result ofthe failure ofthe pumper to pump. the same at frequent intervals or for other reasons, the well will not pump from the bottomand it is necessary to elevate the tubing by an expensive,process' so that. it will pump'from a higher level. As the oil level drops the tubing may be loweredso that it is adjusted F to the new level of oil, and this is repeated until the Well again pumps from the bottom.

However. the foregoing operation is expensive and time consuming and therefore an important object of this invention is to provide simple means wherebythe oil may be pumped at any level without the necessity of lifting the tubing-off bottom.

Further the invention aims to provide simple means whereby, the Well may pumped off when flooded and wherein the said means do not in any way interfere with the pumping of the well from the bottom when the well is not flooded.

Other objects and advantages will be apparent during the course of the following In the accompanying drawing forming a part of this application and in which like numerals are employed to designate like parts throughout the same, 1 H

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a tubing arranged in a well casing and equipped with a plurality of the improved telescopicair valves, the valves being spaced at intervals of approximatelyQOO.

Figure. 2 is a central vertical. sectional view through the telescopic air control valve in its closed position.

Figure 3 is a central vertical sectional OPERATING MEANS THEREFOR.

26, 1923'. Serial No. 682,845.

view through the telescopic air valve in its open position.

Figure tis a' horizontal sectional view taken on line 4-4 of Figure 3.

Figure 5 is a vertical sectional view 5 through the control means for the telescopic valves, the view illustrating the means by which the valves may be successively opened or closed' Figure 6 is a vertical sectional view through a modified form of control means for the telescopic valves.

Figure 7 is a detail elevation taken at right angles to Figure 6 and illustrating the means to indicate the number of valves open. 1

In the drawings wherein for the purpose of illustration is shown a preferred embodiment of the invention the numeral 5 designates a casing of any suitable diameter and which is adapted-to receive the tubing 6 through which the oil flows and is discharged. The lower portion ofthe tubingis provided. with the usual stand pi e 7 mounted upon a woodenblock 8 and the upper end of the stand pipe 7 is provided with a perforated inlet nipple 10 through which: the oil enters the tubing when the well is pumpin from the bottom.

However, it requentlyhappens that th well floods or the oil level within the casing gets so high that the pressure of the air introduced into the casing from an air compressor will 'not be suflicient-to force'the oil through the perforations in the nipple .10 and up through the tubing. a 1 .1

Therefore, I interpose a plurality of telescoping air inlet valves 12 at spaced points in the tubing and provide a means whereby the same may be opened in succession from the top downso as to lowerthe oil-level and permit the pumping to takeplace "from the bottom ofthe' well. Each telescopic air lift valve is alike and consist of inner and outer tubular sections 14. and '15, the se'ctionshaving their interme- ,diate portions formedwith openings 16 and 17 for the admission of 'the air pumped into the casing from an air compressor, all of which will be'later described. In carrying out the invention the lower portion of the section 14 is provided with a combined attaching andstop nipple 18 which as illustrated in Figure 1 has connection with a coupling 19. The coupling joins the nipple 18 to the adjacent joint of tubing. The nipple is located in the path of travel ofthe ena above so that the uppermost telescopic valve '2. When the upper section is elevated the openings 16 and 17 are no longer in registe; so that thepumping action will take place from the valve immediately below. Furthermore the upper portionof the outer section 14 is provided with an internal contact shoulder 20 having a contact ring 21 of copper in the path of travel of the annular or other suitable material arranged shoulder formed by the enlargement 19, so

. that-the separation of the sections is limited.

In operation the wooden plug 8 is first driven firmly down onto the bottom of the well as shown in Figure 1 and the string of tubing with the telescopic valves interposedtherein is then lowered into thewell.

Prior tointroducing air into the casing the supporting means for the tubing is so positioned that all the valves Wlll be closed and to close the valves, the tubing is of course drawn upwardly so that all the shoulders 19 will be in engagement with the associated contact rings 21. troduced into the casing and an eiiort is made to ump the well from the bottom and in case t e well is flooded the tubing is lowered slightly from the upper end so that the r uppermost valve will open whereupon the pumping action will take place through this air-lift valve. When the oil above the uppermost valve has been pumped oil by the air under i ressure the tubing is elevated slightly so at the uppermost valve assumes the position illustrated in Figure 2 and the pumping action then takes place through the air lift valve next below and this continues until the well pumps fromthe bottom,

A The sup orting means for the tubing and the control means for the several indeppndent valves isillustrated in Figure 5 w ere- -in the numeral 30.indicates a controlnipple threaded onto the upper portion of the tub- Of course the u per portion of the V in ctufiingand more speci cially the upperjoint of the same is cut and threaded at exactly the right place so that-the full threads on the control nipple 30 will engage the full threads on a hand wheel 32. i I

Figure 5 illustrates that the hand wheel 32 is mounted upon an upper race-way 33 The air is now in-' and is secured thereto by means of a set screw 34. A second race-way 35 is arranged beneath the first named race-way and antifriction elements such as ball-bearin s 37 are confined between the upper and ower race-ways.

A stout coiled springs 39 supports the race-ways 33, the hand wheel 32 and consequently the entire length of tubing and by observing the expansion and contraction of the coiled spring 39 it is possible to ascertain just which valves are opening and which are closing.

The coiled spring 39 which is capable of supporting the entire string of tubing which weighs 8000 lbs. at the most rest upon a packing nut 40 threaded into the cap 41 of a head 42 on the casing 5. A suitable packing 43 may of course be located within the packing 41 and is tightly engaged with the control nipple 30 by tightening the nut 40.

In carrying out the invention the air inlet head 42 is provided with an air inlet pipe 46 having connection with an air compressor capable of compressing the air around 100 or 125 lbs. A valve 47 is interposed in the air line 46 and forms a means whereby the admission of air into the casin may be manually controlled. An air relief valve 147 is also interposed in the air line 46 between the air ,inlet head 42 and the valve 47 and forms a means whereby the air may escape when the well is not in operation. If the air were confined in the well under pressure when the well was not in operation the inflow and accumulation of 011 in the bottom of the well would be retarded. The drawings and particularly Fi re 5 illustrate that an air gauge 48 may e interposed in the airline between the main inlet valve 47 and the head Figure 5 also illustrates that the upper portion of the control nipple or operating nipple 30 may be provided with a T-coupling 50 having connection with apipe 51 by means of which the oil may be conveyed to a tank.' Of course, a suitable flexible connection is interposed in the line 51 so as to allow a limited upward movement of the operating nipple when the several valves are opened and closed. A testin pipe 53 is extended upwardl from the -cou ling 50and has a. gate va ve 54 interposed t erein so that a test may be made at any time.

As illustrated in Figure 5 the hand wheel 32 cooperates with a calibrated bar or arm 178 in indicating the number of valves which are open. When the arts are in the position illustrated in igure 5 all valves are open. As the hand wheel is turned to the right to elevate the tubing the valveswill .successively close, the top valve closing first. hen the hand wheel 32 is opposite number 4 on the arm this will Ill] . air to the cylinder.

indicate that there are four valves open. ()f course when the hand wheel is opposite the numeral 1 on the arm 17 8. the "operator will: know that only the lowermost valve or #1 valve is open.

In the tormof the1nventionillustrated in Fig. 6 the tubing is designated byv the numeral andis provided at its upper portion with acoupling 61 to which. an

oil discharge pipe 62 is'connected. .Of

ooursethe lower portion of the tubing has connection with the telescopic air valve so that the vertical movement-of the tubing results in the successive operation. of the valve.

Figure 6 illustrates that a'cylinder 64 is,

connected as indicatedpat 65 to the casing head stufling box 66 the'stuiiing' box 66 being. mounted uponthe casing 67 in the- In carry;

usual and 7 well known 1 manner. ing out this form of the invention a piston 69 is mounted in the cylinder and is securely connected by screw threads or other: wise to the tubing 60 sothat whenthe piston is elevated the tubing "also will be elevalve will be successively 64 so that when compressedair is supplied.

by way of thepipell the piston 69 will be elevated. A control valve 73 is interposed in the branch 2 and may of course be shut off for shutting oil the supply of y The line 71 is provided with a discharge valve'74.- which may be manually operated for releasing the compressed air beneath the piston 69.

The supply of compressed air to the cylinder 64 elevates the piston 69 and the piston carries a quantity of lubricating oil.

,When the piston reaches the upper portion of the cylinder 64: it will pass an outlet port or release port 7 6 so that the compressed air will be discharged and the I piston 69 allowed to settle beneath the relief port. This prevents the lubricating oil carried by the piston from flowing over the upper end of the cylinder 64:.

i The tubing when elevated may be locked in this posit on by a combined hand wheel and cylinder closure 78 which as illustrated in Figure 6 is threaded on the tubing. More specifically after the tubing has been elevated to the proper point it may be locked in this position by turning the hand wheel until it engages the cylinder andby reason of this construction in case leakage of compressed air occurs the tubingcannot settle. Attention is also directed to the fact that the hand wheel 78 extends beyond the cylfinder 64 and consequently prevents-rain ol' the operating hand wheel.

or other matter from entering the cylinder.

In summarizing it will be seen that after the wooden lug 8 has been inserted the string of tu ing with the telescopic air valves spaced about 200 apart is lowered into the well. The last joint of tubing is cut and threaded at such apoint 'thatythe upper portionof the threads on operating nipple30 will just .engage'the full threads 9 tion the valves are open.

In this pea- To close the valves the hand" wheel is turned so as to raise the operating nipple until the upper valve closes and so on until theother valves closein succession to the bottom. The reverse operation opens the valves beginning at the bottom and in succession to theltop. In operation when" the air is ,tu rned into the well under 100 to 125 lbs. pressure from a compressor to the air inlet nipple assembly the oil is forced'down- I ward in the casing past .the closed valves and up into the tubing. The valves should all be closed as this operation is begun in order to see if the well will pump .from the bottom. If the well will not pump from'the bottom, then the tubinglis lowered opening the lowermost valve first and then the next valve above and so on until the well does pump. As soon as the proper valve is opened Where the well will pump, the pumping is allowed to continue from that valve until all the oil above has been blown from the well by air pressure. Then the tubing is raised and the well is pumped from the next valve below and soon until the well may be pumped from the bottom. As soon as the pumper learns the proper intervals for pumping the well he should pump them at such intervalsas the well will pump from the bottom. The different. depths ofthe various valves are arranged so that the well may be pumped from any level, in case of flood or for any other reason the well is allowed to rise so high that the well will not pump from the bottom by oil pressure.

The practicenow in pumping oil wells with air is to pull the tubing to a higher level when the well floods. This is an awkward and expensive process of setting up the equipment each time to pump from. lower levels as the oil is blown from the higher levels, all of which is lacking in this invention. 7

The bracket or arm 169 is mounted on the member 78 and cooperates with a se'riesot calibrations so as to indicate the number of valves open. When the pointer or indicator of the part 169 is opposite 4, of course the operator will know that only four valves are open and when the indicator is opposite the numeral 2 on the stem 60 the operator will know that only twovalves are open. These two, of course, will be the two lower most valves. Y

It will be seen that theby pass valve 73 may be opened for establishing free communication between the' main air supply a pair of telescopic tubular sections having openingsadapted for registration, said sections having enlargementsarranged in the same vertical planes whereby the separation of 'the'se'ctions' is limited, and a contact ring carried by one of the enlargements an adapted for contact by the other enlargement when the openings are out of registra-' tion.

An air liftvalve for wells comprising inner, and outer tubular sections having openingsadapted for registration, said-inner section being provided with an external enlargement and said outer section being provided .with an internal enlargement a1"- 7 ranged in the path of travel of said external enlargement whereby the separation of the sections'is limited, the external enlargement .on said inner section being adapted to extend over and close the openings in the outer sec+ tion. I a

3. A well equipment comprising a string I of tubing consisting of a plurality of connected lengths,telescopic air valves inter posed in said tubing between said lengths and consisting of slidably connected tubular sections having openings adapted for registration, the sections'of said valve being provided with means whereby to limit the separation of the sections and to close the openings in one of the sections, and means whereby to raise or lower the tubing from.

the'upper portion thereof whereby to successively open or close said valves.

4:. A well equipment comprising a string of, tubing consisting ofa plurality of connected lengths, telescopic air valves interposed in said tubing between said lengths and consisting of slidably connected tubular 'sectionsthaving openings adapted for reg istration',the sections of said valves being provided with means whereby to limit separation ofthe sections and to close the openings in one of the sections, means whereby to raise or lower the tubing from the u p'er portion thereof whereby to successive y f of said tubing.

open or close said valves, and a perforated inlet member connected to the lower portion (LIA well equipment comprising a string down into;

operating nipple connected to the upper of tubing consisting of a plurality of connected lengths, telescopic air valves interposed in said tubing between s'aid lengths and consisting of shdably connected tuhular sections having openings adapted for registration,.the sections of said valves being provided with means whereby to limit separation of the sections and to close the openings in one of the sections, means whereby to raise or lower the tubing from the upper portion thereof whereby to suecessively open or close said valves, a perforated inlet member connected to the lower portion of, said tubing, and a block upon which the tubing rests during the raising and lowering of the upper and intermediate portions. of the same.

6. A well equipment comprising a string of tubing consisting of a plurality of joints, telescopic air inlet valves interposed 1n the tubing between the joints and providing a means whereby a limited sliding connection is provided between the joints of tubing, an

ortion of the tubing, and a hand w eel laving connection with the 0 rating nipple and forming a means where y the operating nipple may be raised or lowered, and a spring supporting the operating nipple and the length of tubing.

7. A well equipment comprising a string of tubing consisting of a plurality of joints, telescopic air inlet valves interposed 1n the tubingbetween the joints and providing a means whereby a limited sliding connection is provided between the joints of tubing, an operating nipple connected to the upper portion of the tubing, a hand wheel havin connection with the operating nipple an forming a, means whereby the operating nipple may be raised or lowered, a 5 ring supporting the operating nip le an the length of tubing, and a casing iead having a packing and a packing nut, the packing nut constituting a supporting means for said coiled spring.

8. A well equipment comprising a string of tubing consisting of a plurality of joints, telescopic air inlet valves interposed in the tubing between the joints and providing a means whereby a limited sliding connection is provided between the. joints of tubing, an operating nipple connected to the upper portion of the tubing, a hand wheel having connection withthe operating nipple and forming a means whereby the operating nipple may be raised or lowered, a sprin sup orting the operating1 nipple and thedengt of tubin a casing ea having a packing and a pac ing nut, the packing nut constituting a supporting means for said coiled spring, and an air inlet pipe connected to said casing head and having a valve interposed therein.

9. A well e uipment comprising a string of tubing consisting of a plurality of joints,

telescopic air inlet valves interposed in the tubing between the joints and providing a means whereby a limited sliding connection is provided between the joints of tubing, an operating nipple connected to the upper portion of the tubing, a hand wheel having connection with the operating nipple and forming a means whereby the operating nipple may beraised or lowered, a spring supporting the operatingl nipple and the length of tubing, a casing ead having a packing and a packing nut, the packing nut constituting a supporting means for said coiled spring, an air inlet pipe connected to said casing head and having a valve interposed therein, and a relief valve whereby the air in the casing may escape. I

10. A well equipment comprising a string oftubing, consisting of a plurality of joints; telescopic air inlet valves interposed in the tubing between the joints and providing a means whereby a limited sliding connection is provided betweenthe joints of tubing, an

operating nipple connected to the upper portion of the tubing, a hand wheel having connection with the operating nipple and forming a means whereby the operating nipple may be raised or lowered, a spring supporting the operating ni ple and the length of tu ing, a casing hea having a packing and a packing nut, packing nut constituting ..-;,a supporting means for said coiled spring,

an air inlet pipe connected to said casing head and having a valve interposed therein, and anoil conducting pipe connected to said operating nipple.

11. A tubing elevating and control mechanism for wells comprising a cylinder having means whereby the same may be secured to a casing head, a piston movable in the cylinder, and a tubing havin connection with the piston and adapte to be elevated thereby, a combined cylinder closure and hand wheel mounted on said tubing and adapted for holding said tubing in a set position, and means whereby to supply fluid under pressure to said cylinder for actuatin said piston, said cylinder being provided with a relief port.

V ALEXANDER BOYNTON. 

